Elinchrom or Bowens?

Am looking at a two light setup, and for the price I can either get the Bowens 250/250 kit, or the Elinchrom 2-go-2 500 kit.

Which would you experienced users/those in the know recommend and why?

Thanks in advance,
Saqib.

I have the Elinchrom 500's and Bowens Esprit 500's

Both have their good points.#

They both Flash to order and have a fine range of accessories available.

Elinchroms flash is faster and Bowens feels more indestructible

Baz

Brivett,

Thanks for the reply. The price of the Elinchrom is for two 500 heads, and the Bowens is two 250 heads - so is the Elinchrom better value for money?

Also, do they come with the modelling lamps included or is that extra?

Thanks,
Saqib.

Both come with modelling lamps... The Bowens have 275W photofloods which last about 6 hours, the Elinchroms have 100W 196V Superleuci's which last longer but are harder to get when you need them...

I have swapped my modelling lamps in my Bowens for "Halostar" 250's which is a standard upgrade that most do - longer lasting and brighter.

I would prefer the 500W Elinchroms because of the power but would look at the whole package.... If I could get Bowens 500's I'd prefer them.

The stands supplied with both are good. Bowens are certainly Manfrotto rebadged, I think the Elinchrom ones are also.

The bag supplied with the Bowens is variable - Bowens ship the "Delux" kit bag with the standard two head kit which is superb - Better than anything Elinchrom supply.... However I note that Warehouse express are listing the soft zipperd bag with their kits... which is rubbish and worse than Elinchrom - Check what you are being offered.

The kits usually offer a softbox. The Elinchrom Portalite boxes are poor. Cute that they can be fitted into a camera bag, but that's not a benefit when you are lugging lights. The Bowens supplied softbox is too high quality if anything....

Bowens use 1/4" jack for their sync input - Common on 3rd party devices - Elinchrom use their own plug, which is very good... but if you forget your lead... don't expect to bodge one's with bits from maplins....

Both are excellent quality items built to a standard which will last you many years of daily usage after lesser but brightly coloured kits will have crumbled - You can't go wrong with either, but look at all the small points.

I have a 25 year old Bowens light which still works great !

Baz

www.studioflash.co.uk